Working Gratitude - Real People. Real Gratitude at Work.

Dr. Victoria Boyd is president and founder of the GALAXY Group and Center Stage Leadership™. She is passionate about the business and non-profit arenas as an author, educator, trainer, administrator and advocate throughout the country. Dr. Boyd is grateful to connect with other energetic, passionate people and to see them become successful. She truly sees the opportunities in the challenges we face in our professional lives. Challenges in one field may present opportunities to serve others in another. She encourage teachers and non-profit executives to invest in themselves so that they can overflow into the lives of those that they serve. Her book “The Wealthy Teacher: Answering the question “What’s Next?” helps teachers on others who are facing career changes. Watch for more information about Dr. Boyd's impact with Life After Active Duty, helping military men and women answer the question "What's Next?"

April Kelly was at PayPal before it was PayPal, went on to what was then a start-up, Linkedin, and is now engaged in another start-up. Her work in those roles gave her great insights about leadership and gratitude that she shares in her book Gratitude at Work. She is grateful for technology that connects people and ideas. From challenges faced as a collegiate volleyball athlete and camp counselor, she is grateful for effective team building skills. April's gratitude overflows from her success into her community by volunteering for Open Door Mission in Omaha, NE where she lives. Learn more about April at WooHooPress.com and on Linkedin.

Nathan Ohm is a Senior Financial Analyst with Oracle Corporation, managing sales and incentive compensation processes. He is grateful for a really easy commute. Nathan is grateful for a job that aligns people for success and grateful for a good manager and management team. He finds enjoyment in his everyday work routine. He is grateful that he faces challenges that help him focus and find balance. His gratitude overflows into the community through volunteer work with Grace Cathedral and 42nd Street Moon theatre company in San Francisco.

Chip Conley is an author, speaker and founder of Joie de Vivre Hospitality. He speaks around the world on how to find meaning at the intersection of business and psychology. His latest adventure is as a festival seeker and he is grateful to travel and write about that. Chip’s research shows, "the number one fastest way on any continent in the world is to practice gratitude." He expresses gratitude and works to make a difference financially and with time and energy dedicated toward localized transformational organizations. Chip has been on the Board of San Francisco’s Glide Memorial Church and is currently on the board of the Esalen Institute, Burning Man, and Youth Speaks and he is the founder/producer of ArtPadSF.

Dave Block has been a travel agent, toll booth attendant and customer service agent. He has embarked on a journey of bringing the conversation about gratitude in life and work to as many people as he possibly can. Even in the face of major financial challenges he holds the conviction for what he is doing and gratitude is fundamental inspiration for his perseverance. Like Dave, The Gratitude Guy, on Facebook and enjoy his website/blog MyGratitudeLife. Dave has been inspired by Gratefulness.org.

The Honorable John Kralik, Superior Court Judge in Los Angeles, is the author of the New York Times bestseller "A Simple Act of Gratitude - How Learing to Say Thank You Changed My Life." He is grateful for people who help him in his work every day and he is still in the habit of writing thank you notes to those people. "When you send out your appreciation to others, it is like a wave in a lake. It just ripples and ripples and ultimately comes back to you."

MJ Petroni is the owner and founder of Causeit, Inc. working to help human beings reach their full potential. He is grateful for the trust and alignment that he had his team have created among themselves to move their work forward. He is grateful that it takes breakdowns to create breakthroughs. He and his team are very community minded and even in their philanthropy you will see an innovative spirit. MJ is pleased that Causeit was able to support Tedx Bellevue and the theme of Sustainable Happiness.

Dana Satterwhite of Satterworx and TastySpace is an independent writer, creative thinker, and entrepreneur. He is grateful to work in the creative industry. In general he is grateful for having learned to face rejection. He also faced the challenge of making major changes in his life and work and weathering them with a lens of gratitude. He has recently published his first children's book - Go Go Greta. He supports the work of New Vista, empowering the disabled community, and Push Forward Skateboarding, Creating empowering environments for at-risk youth through skate culture and the arts.

Rich Cruse is a sports and scenic photographer. He is grateful to be among the few who really do what they love and what they are passionate about and thankful for the joy that comes from what he does. He had developed the skill of moving forward through challenges, being grateful for them and learning. Social media has been a way to not only build exposure for his business but as importantly to build support for causes like Challenged Athletes Foundation. Like Rich on Facebook. Follow Rich on Twitter @CrusePhoto.

Dave Kerpen is co-founder and CEO of Likeable a social media and word of mouth marketing firm. He is most grateful for the team of people he works with, including his wife and business partner and their team. Having faced some of the challenges of working with family they have created a wonderful blended life. He has also grateful for what he has learned from making some mistakes in hiring along the way. Dave and his company are committed to the work of Donors Choose making it easy to help classrooms in need.

Risa Page is an educator who has come out of retirement to enjoy an encore career. She is grateful to have found the freedom to do the work that is her passion - making a difference for future generations. She realizes that the challenges she has faced are really the "small stuff" and is grateful for the health and fulness she has found in learning from those challenges. Risa volunteers time, talent and treasure with Southern Nevada Red Cross, Red Rock Conservation Area and the Sweet Adelines as well as their Overtone Society.

Joop Rubens is a photographer and serves as development director for Firelight Foundation. Being from Belgium and having lived and served in Africa, Joop brings a unique perspective of enthusiasm and gratitude to his life and work. He works through challenges in fundraising by seeking the true win-win for the donor and non-profit. He lives the African philosophies of "To give is to plant." And "To walk is to dance."

MIndy Sopher is higher education professional and communications faculty at North Carolina State University and a speaker with Campus Speak. Mindy is grateful to go to work everyday to help students understand that their first job may not be their life job and helping them find their ah-ha moments. Mindy is grateful to have helped a student create Activate Good and she is also involved with Pretty in Pink as expressions of gratitude for her own successes and her health.

Catherine Heeg is a consultant, speaker, social media trainer and strategist in the tourism, travel and hospitality industry. She has a long list of things to be grateful for and is most grateful for clients and opportunities to collaborate with people with whom she enjoys working. She has a good perspective on being grateful even when you do not close the business. Catherine expresses gratitude in community and gives back by mentoring interns.

Tony Adams is a former Catholic priest turned writer who writes about spirituality and travel in the LGBT community. He is grateful to be fully expressed in is work and that it his work is not an obligation but an expression of his truest self. Some challenges require change. Others allow you to unlock something in yourself that you have not seen fully. Tony is grateful for all of those challenges. He gives back serving as marriage officiant and asking the couples to donate to the Ali Forney Center for homeless LGBT youth.